NYC ramps up war against rats with new, 14-day inspection rules after 311 complaints
New York City is ramping up its war on rats with new rules governing inspections of suspected rodent-infested properties.
The Department of Health is drafting regulations under Local Law 8 of 2026 requiring it to inspect a property within 14 days of receiving a complaint or request about a rat infestation. The law also requires the DOH to record specific information during each pass or fail inspection.
The proposed rules clarify how buildings are judged and what abatement measures those in control must take. Inspectors must check interior and exterior areas for “tracks, fresh droppings, burrows, active runs, fresh gnawing and live rats seen.”
Property owners must sanitize premises, keep garbage in hard plastic or metal containers with tight-fitting lids, remove clutter and debris, seal holes and cracks, pest-proof doors, windows, vents and drains, and hire a state-licensed exterminator when needed. However, these measures do not constitute a defense if inspectors find active signs of rats during a compliance inspection.
Fines are $300 for a first violation, $600 for a second, $1,200 for a third and up to $2,000 for four or more.
The law was authored by Brooklyn Councilwoman Susan Zhuang after constituents complained that 311 rat reports were not promptly investigated. At a Dec. 4, 2025, hearing, Zhuang said one constituent had filed countless complaints without seeing an inspector. The law also requires a second inspection attempt within 20 days if access cannot be obtained initially.
City officials said last year that the DOH’s average response time to 311 rat complaints was nine days. The DOH will hold a public hearing Sept. 14 before implementing the rules.
The city has made progress against rats, a priority under former Mayor Eric Adams that continues under Mayor Zohran Mamdani. About 9,900 rat calls were reported in the first seven months of 2026, the lowest for that period since 2020 and the first time below 10,000 since then.
A separate city policy requires buildings to replace trash bags with sealed containers. More than 70% of trash is now required to be in sealed containers, according to the Sanitation Department. Empire Bins began in a 10-block West Harlem pilot in 2023, expanded throughout Community Board 9 by June 2025 and targets residential buildings with more than 30 units. Mamdani wants citywide containerization by 2032.
The DOH says rats are attracted by trash accumulation, cracks, gaps or holes, accessible food or water and unsanitary conditions.
